Do you Assess your Kindergarten or First Graders at the Beginning of the School Year?

How do you level your students so that you can work with them in small groups in reading? Here are a few things I look at to level my students!

1. Assess alphabet recognition and sounds. You may already have access to this from their kindergarten year. However, lots of things can change over the summer. I just give them an alphabet chart and point to random letters so they are not going in order asking the letters and then later with sounds. This will give you a great start for who needs help with letters. You may also do this with numbers to set up your math groups.
2. Sit down and listen to your students read. If you have leveled readers either guided reading or Lexile readers. Start out with a guess to listen to them read. If you aren't sure, start with level A. We use GR levels, so I can speak to that. I am not as familiar with Lexile system. If you student is reading at level A with great fluency, you may want to skip up to a level C, and so forth. If they are struggling at level A, then they are below level A. Begin to work more on continuing letter recognition and sounds, then putting these together in Consonant Vowel Consonants, CVC format. C-A-T, for example. I'll save more information on that for later.
3. Just watch them during their beginning of the year activities. Can they write their name? Are they already reading? It's ok if you haven't gotten to all your students. Even if you notice a few of your students skills, that gives you a good starting point for when you work with them 1-1. Grab a clip-board, write down what you notice on sticky notes when they are doing the fun, easy activities on those first few days of school. Transfer these to a student levels notebook.

Once you get an idea of levels, whether you write below level, on level, above level, guided reading level <A through G, for example. You will start to notice a pattern of students that fit together. Also, consider personalities and behaviors. Working in small groups has let me work with students right where they are.

If you need forms for the alphabet, I do have some available. But you can do this with any alphabet chart. Start backwards so they are not rote citing the alphabet, first with letters, then sounds. Do the same with numbers. Start with 20 and go backwards, or simple hop around, checking off all they know. Here is a FREEBIE if you are interested.

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How do you level your students?

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How do I Prepare my Child for Kindergarten?

 It's almost time for back to school. Many students are starting their very first year of school, and that will be kindergarten! Have you asked questions like, how do I prepare my child for Kindergarten? What should my child know before entering kindergarten or what is needed for kindergarten readiness?  

👉Get Ready for Kindergarten-Summer Skills

10 things your child needs to know before kindergarten:

1.  Be independent. The more your child can do for themselves, the better.  Let them dress themselves, put on their own shoes, brush their own teeth and go to the restroom independently. If they can help prepare their breakfast such as pop tart or cereal, that's great! Being independent at home will help build confidence at school. 

2.  Keep routines at home.  They will be on a tight routine at school. This will help them transition.  Children on a routine at home will be able to deal with a routine at school.

3.  Read! Read to your children, with your children, and let them read (or pretend) to read alone. They do NOT need to know how to read. Have books available for them. If you don't have many books, check out your local library. You can bring home books weekly and switch them out.  Also, local thrift stores have inexpensive books to help build your library. 

4.  Practice literacy and math skills! Engage children in songs such as the simple alphabet songs.  Start recognizing letters while out on errands, grocery stores, or road trips. Look for a, b, then c, etc.  Count to 10, then 20! Count beans, macaroni, toys, etc.  Also, count cars, people or signs when driving around. Click on the picture below for more practice in this summer readiness packet.

5.  Recognize basic shapes. Know circle, square, triangle, and rectangle. Find these shapes around the house or on errands.  Use those school supplies to draw and cut these shapes for a fun art activity.

6.  Learn how to tie shoes independently or buy Velcro shoes.  You want to run at recess but there are 5 children in front of you getting their shoes tied by the teacher.  

7. Write their name. Give your child fun markers, crayons, or color pencils to make writing their name a fun activity.  You may also want to use chalk or even water and a paintbrush on a sidewalk.

8.  Buy school supplies early! Go ahead and get the school supplies early or even the year before.  Let them color, cut, glue, and use pencils. When they get to kindergarten, they will be ready to go!

9.  Be able to separate from parents.  Be sure to go places without your child on occasion, leaving them with a family member or sitter.  Separation anxiety can be an issue when beginning kindergarten.  Practicing this activity will help build confidence before the first day of school. 

10.  Use zippers for coats, pants, or hoodies.  Make sure your child can zip up their coat, pants, or hoodies. This makes it easier for them when going outside for recess or using the bathroom.

Ok, 1 more....Use the bathroom independently. 😅

Click on the following pictures for more information or assistance helping your child 

Get Ready for Kindergarten.

  

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👉Robin Wilson Teachers Pay Teachers